Hoping yours was lovely, snuggly and giggly as well.
6.14.2010
6.07.2010
[two parties...]
A few weeks ago I received a call from my friend Jordan asking for assistance and creative inspiration for a baby shower she would be throwing for her sister-in-law Brooke. Knowing both Jordan and Brooke to be ladies of great taste, and even better company, I was more than delighted to take part.
And then I heard that Jordan had a little more planned up her sleeve. Not only was she aiming to throw a baby shower but had a mind to hold her daughter's 3rd birthday party earlier on that same day. Now here was a challenge to sink my teeth into! Needless to say, I was definitely on board.
![shower2](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tKXffuomuD1HdHwlsM1JsC8yB3PctRCNIYzU6g4_OR3oxbj3U0UW7EfvJ7_-1mvdBnMDGpqarI46N336aq56DyZrYrC6k9W81Uq7y9IrxDImGJyyT9B37u0lfTG04cRbxeHg=s0-d)
The inspiration for Brooke's shower was easy. We decided to base it on the adorable invite that graphic designer Brooke herself had created. I fell in love with her color choices at once and who doesn't love an elephant motif?
In fact we took this theme and ran with it - branded it, if you will, as Jordan and Brooke's husbands (who are also graphic designing brothers) comically put it. Jordan and I divided up the work load and proceeded from there. I made a slew of white iced sugar cookies and packaged them as celebratory favors.
![shower4](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_trUROQiyM1yDcMVG0GfeXnZc3BgdvhJzGLqsPZ_UxL4CdB2fqzsq8gkGnqINqoaRKOjaWAt4fOrweotapOPidbLeT8ngrY-rkPLRbUJsVjl3oU7RndeeSFU4hlN-JfhPBUKw=s0-d)
And then went on sprucing up and personalizing water bottles, stacking a diaper cake, and dotting fabric back drops.
![shower5](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uV7DjPTDxIWuIfssYoE5IbKq27GG2FoSRzKIx70OlgMtbTgdkhnN2l9ooX9H25ki3RcBbAlM34cXN3sES4y0VL2bwgh6P2Ft1D4ygLG7fSdyqWZNebDEzFyQ31L6vVUUDe9A=s0-d)
Add some blue tissue paper poms, delectably dipped strawberries, a corner store's worth of blue candies, scrumptious sandwiches, a sinful strawberry spinach salad and some pretty darn good store bought cupcakes and a party spread we had.
The guests arrived and we enjoyed our time celebrating Brooke and her little bundle on the way.
Now for the birthday party for a certain little 3 year old princess. Jordan made the most incredible princess cakes out of my Williams Sonoma pumpkin cake mold. I don't think these Disney princesses ever looked so good, do you?
![princessparty2](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uRJGY7Igq9-xvMfICnio2UVR4zqeV_di6CbvAtwqcFnrV4suCsvlLucP2WyJPy960vE2elLy284XE6wYDB61Lv-sksM3zgyLHb15-o4cgEqR0xlw5Roc8hDgk93JXEwYV7Tw=s0-d)
We doubled up on the iced sugar cookies and went with the same circle punch sticker solution for the packaging, reducing the work load a bit.
![princessparty3](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_thi3lF9OVaGlRiRN8lvxZeJC8d_KzHaK2k_fdEA7mLSSBafD0fAisphNdMR6kc5i3u34M3i4OdmLVMXuTz2tTloiotV9pXPea6jMCGrdP0m-TyrFPZf1ucdhRDVaI6Fzwk=s0-d)
We used the same water bottle label solution and doubled up on the party poms (only adding a few more colorful ones for the birthday bash).
Happy faces and delighted darlings tell the tale of a smashing party.
Whew! Well from my perspective we pulled it all off rather well. And if you are thinking of doing something similar, here are a few pointers:
-most definitely pull someone else in to help you
-double up on as many goodies and design solutions as possible, still making sure each party has it's own signature look
-plan as much as you can ahead of time, divide and conquer
-simplify wherever you can
-when the clock is ticking, ditch whatever isn't working
-and when it's all said and done, let it all go and enjoy your guests along with the fruits of your labors
Happy party planning!